GENOA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Genoa’s Lorenzo Colombo misses a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Frosinone CF at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 12, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simon Avida/Getty Images)
until the 32ndND The first penalty kick game of the Serie A season, the first VAR on-site review, and 34th The penalty was converted before the game.
The Italian Referees Association (AIA) has warned that new guidelines will be in place for the 2026/27 season after years of criticism over excessive suspensions, weak decisions and too many red cards.
While VAR is more popular in Italian football than elsewhere, people complain that too many incidents are magnified and judged based on slow-motion replays, rather than considering the speed and intensity of the game in context.
Serie A referee standards change
This is certainly a shift in assessment, as not a single penalty has been awarded in the first 31 games of Serie A this season, and no VAR on-site review has been recommended.
It can be said that the handball incident during Genoa’s 1-1 draw with Frosinone was a case of ambiguity and obvious error, as the hand did not obviously move towards the ball.
It didn’t matter anyway, as Lorenzo Colombo quickly deflected Genoa’s penalty wide of the goal after the verdict.
We have to wait until 34th In this season’s competition, Daniel Maldini scored against parent club Atalanta with a penalty kick, helping Cagliari win 2-1.
This was also a case of handball, although in this case the referee caught Kolasinac waving his arms above his head in real time.
Serie A stands out with this new attitude, and some fear they may have overcorrected.
After all, there were 13 penalties in La Liga Winning in the first 30 gamesthere are 9 games in Ligue 1, 5 games in Premier League, and only 1 game in Bundesliga.